Unusual spoilage in rabbit carcasses caused by Janthinobacterium lividum.

A rare case of meat spoilage was identified in rabbit slaughterhouses in the regions of Veneto and Emilia Romagna (Italy). The first cases were detected in May and June 2005, but the problem was only brought to our attention in July 2005. As noted by the meat inspector, 2-3 days after slaughtering, the surfaces of some of the carcasses began to show pin-point violet colonies. Microbiological analyses established the origin of this spoilage, which was not due to fungi or Pseudomonas spp. A psychrophilic strain of Janthinobacterium lividum was isolated from all the carcasses as absolutely predominant microflora. This is probably the first report of this rare spoilage identified in meat in Italy.